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- Home > Business > New hotels to heat up competition
- SA tsunami survivors back in Thailand
- Bangkok for beginners
- Asiaone – S’pore firm offers
- Third red sea resort for kempinski

Home > Business > New hotels to heat up competition
Nation Multimedia – Dec 27, 2007
Published on December 27 2007 perators nationwide can expect only a modest rise in their room rates compared to this year. THA president Chanin Donavanik said the number of new rooms was expected to increase by 30000 during 2006-2008 with more than 3000 set to hit the market next year in the capital. It would appear that many new hotels are planned for major destinations such as Bangkok Samui Phuket Pattaya Hua Hin and Chiang Mai. "I noticed four hotel categories increasing their presence in the market: guest houses serviced apartments boutique hotels and international chains" said Chanin… The body also believes that the oversupply of rooms in the Kingdom is causing a drop in occupancy rates. After the drop in rates throughout 2007 the THA president said hotels must continue to battle against oversupply next year. According to the THA the year 2007 was a dark year for Thai hotels following the New Year's Eve bombings which resulted in overall occupancy rates reaching only 30 per cent. Chanin said the bombings on New Year's Eve had had a negative effect on several sensitive markets such as Japan Korea and China. However he said that although overall tourism in 2008 was still growing there was less growth than in some neighbouring countries and it would not exceed this year's projected figures of 14. 8 million arrivals. According to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) international tourist arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport from January to ctober this year jumped 5.

SA tsunami survivors back in Thailand
Independent nline – Dec 27, 2007
About 220 000 people were killed in the tsunami including 15 South Africans. Speaking to the Cape Times on the third anniversary of the tsunami Auction Alliance CE Rael Levitt said he was in Hong Kong and that he would be in Phuket to celebrate the New Year on December 30. He is travelling there with a group of 12 South Africans including four survivors of the 2004 tsunami disaster. Levitt said he had booked himself into the same hotel he was in when the tsunami struck and that he did not have any fears about being there. “It really is a beautiful part of the country and the chances of a tsunami are one in a million” he said… AFP reported that thousands of candles flickered in the night next to Thailand’s Andaman Sea on Wednesday in memory of the 5 400 people who died in that area. The candles were lit after hundreds of people – both local and international visitors – laid flowers on the shore of Phuket’s Patong beach. Ceremonies were held on those beaches around Thailand which were worst hit and people came from various parts of the world to join locals in remembering the dead.

Bangkok for beginners
NEWS.com.au – Dec 27, 2007
My Thailand guidebook says that if you only have one massage in Thailand this is the place to have it. It certainly turned out to be good advice although I should disclose that we enjoyed three massages during our time in Thailand which were all fantastic. In fact my sightseeing companion – who I suspect is actually addicted to massages although he tells me that it’s only when he’s in Thailand – managed to have even more including three in one day. After our relaxing massages (we both opted for the foot reflexology massage – I have to say the traditional Thai massage looked a tad full-on when the therapist was sitting on the person’s back and manipulating their limbs) we made a stop at Wat Po’s main attraction – the country’s largest reclining Buddha. It’s massive – 46 metres long and 15 metres high – and covered in gold leaf… ne-way fares on the Sky Train only cost between 55c to $1. r an all-day ticket from Nana station – a short walk from our hotel the Grand Sukhumvit by Sofitel – to Siam station cost us $4. There’s no shortage of shopping spots nearby and throughout Bangkok. Sukhumvit Road is packed with shopping malls and department stores and there’s more not far away including the upmarket five-storey Siam Paragon and the nearby MBK Centre (both in Pathumwan). Be warned: it’s easy to get lost in the eight-storey MBK.

Asiaone – S’pore firm offers
Asiane – Dec 27, 2007
I also own very expensive Michael Jordan baseball caps and NBA trading cards which are worth about US$200 each. Q What are your retirement goals?A I do not think much of retirement as I am still very energetic and passionate about what I do at 40. However when I get older I would love to relax yet manage a resort or boutique hotel in Thailand. To work towards this goal I am exploring hotel ventures to fulfil my dream. Q And your home now is.

Third red sea resort for kempinski
Zawya – Dec 27, 2007
GHA will continue to grow to include selected hotel brands in those regions not currently covered by the alliance. To book or for further information visit.

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